Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-07-14
a RASCAL DISCOVERED.

a RASCAL DlSCOvEhE1.
| A Trnstad Oe1c,al IF the Treasury Depart.
ment Discovered Defrauding the Gov
eminent by Systematic Forgery ana
Prosecution of Fraudulent Claims ZOE
His Own Benefit.
WASHINGTON, June BY direction OF
the Secretary of the Treasury, charges
| were preferred before the district attor-
| ney yesterday against Oscar j. Harvey,
of Pennsylyania, trusted official of the
Treasury Department. of originating
fraudulent claims against the Govern
ment, and, by forgeries and other II
Irregularities, passing the claims through
the department and securing their pay
ment for his own benefit. In 1885 Harvey
was appointed chief of the division OF
horse claims in the Third Auditors office,
position which he retained until recent
", when he was transferred to similar
position in the Second Comptroler's OF
flee. In the horse claims division he was
succeeded by Austin Fl. Brown, OF In
dianapolis.
Shortly after taking charge Of the divi-
sion, Mr.. Browns attention was attract
ed to the similarity of handwriting In
number Of claims, and other suspicious
circumstances, leading him to believe that
wholesale system of forgery ana
fraudulent prosecution of claims had
been carried on. He reported his suspi-
cions to Secretary Fairchild. After addi-
tional evidence had been collected the
case assumed such shape that
it was put in the hands OF
the secret service division. CHER
Brooks pursued the Investigation, and sat
isfied himself that forty three fraudulent.
claims aggregating So 200 had been pre-
sented, passed through the office and car
ried to the final stages. He suspected
of hoy
and profted by these claims. He was
convinced that the letters upon which
these claims were based, and subsequent
stamps, Endorsements, signatures, etc,
were fraudulent. The claims were all OF a
similar nature, all growing out OF the
loss of horses during the war.
Thursday the matter had pro gressed
far enough to justify search OF Harvey's
house, and here papers were found in 316
additional claim cases, not yet presented
to the department, as we'll as other evil
dence justifying Harvey's arrest. Har~
vev left Washin gton about the first in
slant, on short vacation, and left
Wilkes barre, Pa, Thursday night to re-
turn here. He was Swallowed by officers
of the secret service, who have kept him
under surveillance since he was first sus-
pected.
On his arrival here yesterday morning,
secretary and Mr.. Fairchild consented to
see him. District-Attorney Worthington
was sent for, and Mr. Harvey saw the
secretary in his presence. He was very
much depressed in spirits and seemed to
be very penitent. When he was informed
of the evidence against him he broke
down completely and made full confess
sion of his guilt. He admitted not only
that the papers on which the claims were
ha cd fro1 In nd
lures forged but that the stamps of the
Quarterma ster- General, Second Audi
tors office, were counterfeit and had been
procured and used by him. He further
stated that he had no accomplice in
any OF the transactions, and that the
whole scheme had been concocted by
himself. He had been driven to it, he
said, by pecuniary necessities brought,
upon him by a man with whom he had
been in partnership, and who, ever since
he received his appointment in the
treasury, had goaded him on to make the
most of his opportunities. This man, he.
said, pretended to have a criminal hold
on him, but he did not really have any. 1t
was this, he said, that had led him into
the trouble, and brought him face to face,
with the penitentiary. ''My partner"
concluded the prisoner, "told me 1 had a.
good office, and that I could raise the
money he wanted. did it, and now see
what has come Of it.'
Harvey was taken before the police court
yesterday. He waived examination,
and was committed to jail for the action
of the grand jury in default of bail, which
was fixed at $12, 900. He is described as a.
man of unusual intellectual attainm ents
and as having secured the unlimited con-
fdence of his superior officers. He has
family residip- in Washington.
It is stated that Harvey was appointed
chief of division in the Third Auditors
office through the intercession of William
e. Smith, of New York, before the latter
became Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury. Harvey was a classmate of Mr..
Smith, and his appointment was ordered
by Secretary Manning over the united and
vigorous protest of Con gressmen Randall
and Curtin, who did not con-
slider Harvey Of sufficient Importance
in Pennsylvania politics to receive
such position. 1t is also charged that
Harvey was a Repu blican, but this is de-
n